How to reset Live
Resetting Ableton Live returns the application to its default state. Performing a reset of Live can help rule out any problematic custom settings or template files when troubleshooting.
Reset Live 11 and later: macOS
Reset Live 11 and later: Windows
Live 10 and earlier
Resetting Live clears the following and restores to default:
- Live's Preferences, including Audio and MIDI settings
- Template Set
- Undo History
After a reset of Live, you'll need to re-enable your hardware devices and plug-in folders, re-enter custom input/output names, and re-select any custom settings in Live's Preferences.
Note: The instructions below specify certain files to move to the Desktop. After moving the files, test to see if resetting Live solves the issue. If the issue is indeed solved, you can then delete the files from your Desktop. If the issue is not solved, you can instead move the files back to their original locations to restore your custom settings.
Live 11 and later
Reset Live 11 and later: macOS
First, move the Preferences file.
-
- Close Live.
- In Finder, select the Go Menu, then hold down the Option key on your keyboard.
- Open the Library folder that appears.
- Scroll down to open the enclosed folders Preferences > Ableton.
This opens the path, usually hidden, Users/[username]/Library/Preferences/Ableton. (More info: how to access hidden folders on Mac.) - Open the folder for your current version of Live, for example Live 12.0.20.
- Drag the file Preferences.cfg to the Desktop.
- If the folder Undo is present, move this as well.
Next, reset Live's Template Set:
-
- In Live's Browser, navigate to Library/Templates and find the file called DefaultLiveSet.als.
- Right-click on the file and choose "Set Default Live Set" from the context menu.
After these steps, re-launch Live.
Reset Live 11 and later: Windows
-
- Close Live.
- In Windows Explorer's address bar, type %AppData%.
- Click the down arrow, and select Users\[username]\AppData\Roaming.
- Open the folder Ableton.
- Find and open the folder for your current version of Live, for example Live 12.0.20, then open Preferences.
- Drag the file Preferences.cfg to the Desktop.
- If the folder Undo is present, move this as well.
Next, reset Live's Template Set:
-
- In Live's Browser, navigate to Library/Templates and find the file called DefaultLiveSet.als.
- Right-click on the file and choose "Set Default Live Set" from the context menu.
After these steps, re-launch Live.
Live 10 and earlier
Reset Live 10: macOS
- Close Live.
- In Finder, open this hidden folder (where x.x.x is the installed version of Live, eg. 10.1.30): :
Users/[username]/Library/Preferences/Ableton/Live x.x.x
Note: Here's how to access hidden folders on Mac.
- Move Preferences.cfg, the Undo folder (in Live 9 this is Undo.cfg) and Template.als (if present) to the Desktop.
- Re-launch Live.
Reset Live 10: Windows
- Close Live.
- In Windows Explorer, open this hidden folder (where x.x.x is the installed version of Live, eg. 10.1.30):
Users\[username]\AppData\Roaming\Ableton\Live x.x.x\Preferences
Note: Here's how to access hidden folders on Windows.
- Move Preferences.cfg, the Undo folder (in Live 9 this is Undo.cfg) and Template.als (if present) to the Desktop.
- Re-launch Live.